Fantasy Tip: Panik hit .305 with a home run and 18 RBI in 269 at-bats in his first major league action in 2014. He's mainly an asset for batting average and runs, though, which makes him strictly a middle infield option in deep mixed leagues and NL-only formats.

San Francisco Giants OF Angel Pagan might be used in the third spot of the batting order for manager Bruce Bochy. It appears OF Norichika Aoki is working his way into the leadoff spot, and 2B Joe Panik will be the two-hole hitter with Pagan sliding down the order. "Hopefully this works. I think it could work with the way Aoki grinds at-bats and finds ways to get on base, and I like Angel in the three-hole. But we'll see how it goes in the next nine to 10 days," Bochy said Wednesday, March 25.

Fantasy Tip: Pagan would see plenty more RBI opportunities out of the three-hole, and that would give him a little more added fantasy appeal in standard leagues. He would also take on extra value for FantasyScore owners when the matchup is favorable.

San Francisco Giants 2B Joe Panik appears to be set to serve as the team's No. 2 hitter, and he might be asked to take more pitches to allow potential leadoff man OF Norichika Aoki more opportunities to steal a base. The team haven't discussed the situation, but Aoki said he will talk to Panik if the two are officially penciled in as the one and two hitters. Aoki is hopeful of stealing more bases in his return to the National League.

Fantasy Tip: With a speedster in front of him, Panik could actually see more opportunity to hit with runners in scoring position this season. He will be a solid middle infield fantasy option in NL-only standard leagues, and he will have some decent value in FantasyScore when he is going well.

San Francisco Giants OF Norichika Aoki is a candidate to hit leadoff. Manager Bruce Bochy voiced a desire for Aoki to work as the leadoff hitter so OF Angel Pagan (back) can be dropped to third in the order. Aoki has hit leadoff in 336 of his 384 big leagues starts. He hopes to be more aggressive now that he's back in the National League. Aoki stole 50 bases in two season with the Milwaukee Brewers before stealing only 17 with the Kansas City Royals last year.

Fantasy Tip: A move to the top of the order for Aoki ($3,900, 7.8% of cap) would be helpful to his fantasy value since it would award him greater run-scoring potential. Furthermore, if he's given the green light to steal bases more frequently, he'll be a solid late-round selection for speed-starved drafters.

San Francisco Giants SP Tim Hudson (ankle) threw a spring-high 78 pitches Wednesday, March 25, completing six innings, giving up three runs on six hits. Hudson is still trying to build up arm strength as he recovers from right ankle surgery. He's likely lined up to be the fourth starter for the Giants.

Fantasy Tip: Hudson ($5,700, 11.4% of cap) isn't a source of many strikeouts, but he's a good late-round pick for his positive contributions in ERA and WHIP.

San Francisco Giants C Buster Posey (shoulder) was pulled after five innings Wednesday, March 25, with minor scapula discomfort. Posey had trouble loosening his shoulder, but the Giants don't consider it a big deal. He'll play first base Thursday, March 26, instead of catching.

Fantasy Tip: Posey ($6,500, 13.0% of cap) is the top catcher in fantasy baseball and remains an early-round pick despite the minor scare. Monitor his status going forward. If he's healthy, a showdown with one of the weaker projected opening day starters, Josh Collmenter of the Diamondbacks, would make him a strong option in FantasyScore games.

San Francisco Giants OF Angel Pagan (back) played five innings in center field in a minor league game Tuesday, March 24. He lined a single to center in his four at-bats. He'll be in the lineup for the spring training game Wednesday, March 25, as long as he doesn't have any issues following Tuesday's game, according to manager Bruce Bochy.

Fantasy Tip: Pagan has battled injuries each of the last two years, failing to crack the 100 games played threshold in 2013 or 2014. When he's healthy, he's able to contribute to fantasy teams in batting average and stolen bases. Pagan's value is limited to large mixed and NL-only leagues.

San Francisco Giants SP Matt Cain (elbow) acknowledged feeling elbow discomfort after completing five innings of a minor league game Tuesday, March 24. "It's been a little sore after some of these starts, and even during the starts, which is normal," Cain said. "That's part of the rehab process." Cain hasn't suffered any setbacks, but he did mention he might not throw a side session in between his starts this season. Cain's fastball was mostly 90-91 mph and his slider had plenty of movement.

Fantasy Tip: Cain was once one of the better fantasy pitchers in the game, but he wasn't his typically excellent self in 2013 or 2014. Cain is a late-round target with some upside, but it's unwise to expect him to rebound to his pre-2013 form.

San Francisco Giants SP Jake Peavy experimented with a four-seam changeup during his spring outing Monday, March 23, and he also has been trying a new splitter, with limited success, in camp. "I'm going to throw the kitchen sink at them," Peavy said. "I've watched guys in the league reinvent themselves. I watched Roger Clemens go from a four-seam (fastball)-and-curveball guy to sinker-split. I've watched guys grow as the game changes. You feel like if you can do different things to combat your opponent, why not?"

Fantasy Tip: Peavy, 33, is nearing the end of a successful career, so many fantasy owners probably aren't selecting him in standard 12-team mixed leagues. He was surprisingly better, though, after moving to San Fran from Boston in 2014, and he can still be useful in the right matchups despite a declining K/9 rate. Peavy is worth considering at FantasyScore if the matchup dictates.

San Francisco Giants OF Angel Pagan (back) is expected to be ready for opening day, according to general manager Brian Sabean. Sabean said Pagan's injury isn't that severe and isn't expected to linger. As a result, the team isn't looking at outside help for their outfield situation, and there are no current bargains on the market.

Fantasy Tip: Pagan hasn't played more than 96 games in each of the last two years due to injuries, so it'll be hard to convince fantasy owners that Pagan is out of the wood just yet with his back ailment. When healthy, he's not a bad source of stolen bases atop the SF lineup, but he doesn't warrant anything more than a late-round selection in deep mixed leagues.

Fantasy Tip: Continued back and neck problems for Pagan in recent seasons should have you skeptical of him putting in a full season in 2015. He hasn't played in over 96 games in each of the last two seasons. When healthy, he's a stolen base and batting average asset, but the risk of injury makes him nothing more than a late-round target in deep mixed leagues.

San Francisco Giants OF Angel Pagan (back) has back problems related to sleeping on a too-soft mattress. Pagan told the media the back issues are not related to his surgery.

Fantasy Tip: A previous tip suggested Pagan would be hindered by back issues and his fantasy value would drop as a result. That's exactly right. Back problems would hinder Pagan's swing and ability to hit the ball for power, so this is worth watching as the season approaches.

Updating a previous report, San Francisco Giants OF Angel Pagan (back) received two injections in his back Friday, March 20, according to manager Bruce Bochy. Bochy noted he hoped Pagan could participate in baseball activities Sunday, March 22, and in an ideal world, Pagan would play either Monday, March 23, or Tuesday, March 24.

Fantasy Tip: Injuries have cost Pagan 157 games over the past two seasons, and it is likely highly optimistic to expect him to play a full season in 2015, especially at 33. He is a nice late-round target if you need stolen bases, but it appears more and more likely another injury plagued season is in store. Continue to check back for updates on his progress this spring.

Fantasy Tip: The Giants are already without outfielder Hunter Pence, so expect them to be eager to have Pagan in the lineup and especially in the field. However, Pagan has missed 157 games -- basically a full season -- over the past two years, and the lingering back issues hinder his fantasy value. He has speed upside, but there is a lot of risk investing in Pagan. He should be left until the final rounds of mixed leagues drafts. Continue to check back for updates on his recovery.